Twenty years after competing in the Winter Olympics, former speed skater Bob de Jong returned to the Olympic setting, this time as a spectator in Milan during the 2026 Games.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch skating news outlet, reports on de Jong’s visit and reflections on the evolving sport.
De Jong was part of an Olympic legends delegation sponsored by Staatsloterij and enjoyed a warm welcome reminiscent of his experience in Turin in 2006. He described being treated like a hero and valued the opportunity to share stories with fellow former Olympians such as Peter Nottet and Lieuwe de Boer. After brief time with his family in Goutum, Friesland, he returned to Milan to observe the competition for three days, attending the short track events and the men’s 10,000-meter race.
During his visit, de Jong followed the women’s 5,000-meter race at the ISU Home of Skating, a facility set up by the International Skating Union in Milan to welcome fans with live broadcasts and refreshments. He characterized the race as an exciting competition showcasing an Italian-Dutch-Norwegian podium, with Belgium narrowly missing gold by 0.3 seconds. He expressed admiration for the growing international diversity in long-distance speed skating events.
De Jong highlighted how the expansion of team events, including team pursuit and mass start races, has encouraged participation from smaller countries and broadened the medal competition. He pointed to Italian skater Francesca Lollobrigida as an example, whose continued success and two gold medals have been inspired by the opportunities presented through the mass start event.
